The new constitution will be meaningless if the government is not going to walk the talk. Our constitutional rights are only secure when the rule of law is upheld. We are fighting for our freedom, the right to differ in ideas, religion and politics.
Currently, we cannot exercise our political freedoms without fear of arrest, detention, enforced disappearance, abduction or death. The State continues to use intimidation as a tool of repression and political manipulation. We are disempowered and silenced through intimidation.
It is frightening to note that the police in Zimbabwe have the audacity to ignore a directive from the High Court to free Beatrice Mtetwa. This serves as an indirect threat to all peace loving advocates of non-violent action and dissenting voices. We are not entirely free to publicly express ourselves and always have to be careful of what we say in politics. Activists are detained for long periods of time without charge. Freedom of association and assembly is constantly under threat.
These allegations “of obstructing or defeating the course of justice” are counterfeit and a smokescreen by the regime which is bent at silencing one of the most important human rights lawyers in Africa. Beatrice Mtetwa, a Board member of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, and an internationally acclaimed lawyer and winner of multiple human rights awards is being illegally detained by the Zimbabwe regime despite a High Court Order obtained on Sunday 17 March ordering her immediate release. Beatrice has represented hundreds of human rights defenders, prisoners of conscience and victims of torture for the past 15 years and she is considered an enemy by the government of Zimbabwe.
Her continued detention and harassment in custody should be stopped. The ZRP continues to act in contempt of a High Court Order. We demand her release. We demand the rule of law. – Tendai Kwari, by email
Post published in: Letters to the Editor